In a world where games sometimes seem to be racing toward bigger, faster and more photorealistic, simplicity can seem like rebellion. You might not look at Caravel Games' Deadly Rooms of Death variants and think, "Whoo...subversive!" But there really is something defiant about pushing the envelope back in the opposite direction from where corporate gaming seems headed. Notice the word "defiant" as different than obstinate or bullheaded. Caravel isn't just holding out; they're on a mission.

Most of the classic videogames had strong puzzle components. When graphics were less sophisticated, about the only thing that could make a game interesting was how much it worked your noggin. Playing DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold, you quickly realize there is more at work than meets the eye. Each screen is a self-contained challenge, complete with obstacles that begin as switches for doors or false walls you can break with your sword. The minimalist character models are lavishly decked out in 2D finery, as are the surroundings. The music is stirring, and could be just as much at home in some epic RPG as in this world. There aren't eye-popping special effects, and the sounds or character effects are appropriate but not over the top. It just doesn't feel big budget, and that's okay, because DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold is more substance than style.

Thinking of each screen as a room, it is shocking to realize that DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold contains over 350 of these suckers, spread over 25 themed levels. In the beginning, moving from room to room or clearing levels can feel simple enough, because like any good game, DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold ramps you up softly. The reality check arrives somewhere in the second level when you realize that all those gameplay elements you've been taking on one at a time can be introduced in threes or fours or mores. The genius of the game is how well it manages to challenge without losing a feeling of story and continuity. DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold incorporates adventure and exploration, which can make it feel more like an open-ended dungeon crawler than a puzzle game. There is always a sense of excitement around what the next room will look like, and this excitement is something missing from most traditional puzzlers.

Getting from room to room involves beating monsters, and the simplest is a large cockroach derivative. As you move, so these roaches move. They are pretty mindless, but in a persistent way. Calculating where they will move and making use of the environment to challenge them on your own terms is at the heart of completing many early rooms. The monsters get harder and the rooms are full of more and more stuff that can make your life miserable. Suffice it to say that the online community for Caravel is exceptionally strong, and much of the volume comes from hints and questions on solving rooms. This is a game with a strong following, and you'll visit the forums not only for solving each room, but also to find the most elegant way to win. Most players would be happy to get through DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold, which is still just a piece of what Caravel offers.

A good tutorial and helpful hints on the forum ensure that players of all stripes and abilities will be able to win. Another neat option is a "video" replay of levels, available as a download from the web site once you've conquered a room. The forum is set up to give hints, which lets players ask questions and get little bits of answers so as to still have most of the credit themselves. Caravel is definitely oriented toward serious gamers, so DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold is anything but a casual jaunt. Because of the level of challenge, players looking for light entertainment might find some of the rooms frustrating, but just like any good puzzle, there will be rooms that click with some players and cause others great pain. The controls are not especially difficult to learn, but they involve plenty of keystrokes, which some players may find a bit remedial.

Installation and support from the Web site makes getting DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold onto your computer a cinch. The game runs smoothly and uses minimal system stats for either memory or video. Having a fast connection means you can get DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold as a download, and more cheaply than the CD version. The Mac or Linux version of the game is thrown in free when you order, which of course gives Mac guys like me an inferiority complex... O_o

Along with DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold and an earlier version from the DROD annals, Caravel offers a subscription service for ordering standalone levels on CD. Online access is a great way to get replays for DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold levels, as well as downloading (through the game interface) a host of new levels. An editor allows you to create levels from scratch, or modify existing levels that you download from Caravel's web site. As you can see, DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold is as deep an experience as you could want, but it is great fun for players who may be burned out on traditional puzzle games and just want to try their hand at a few rooms. The problem with this game is that one room turns into five rooms and before you know it, somebody is shaking you awake in a puddle of drool on your keyboard, telling you it's time to go to work. Not like that ever happened to me...of course.